Blank Pages in Communication Generation

The issue was that when the Communication Generation is executed, say for 10 students, one PFD file is generated. First page of the PDF has the data, rest all the 9 pages are blank.

The issue was due to some deprecated code features in the XML Publisher ‘Properties tab’.

Issue Resolution step:

1. Navigate to Reporting Tools > BI Publisher > Setup Global > Properties

2. Then select Property Group: PDF Security

3. Then do the below three highlighted changes and save the page

    Pdf-security: False

    Pdf-encryption-level: 0

    Pdf-no-change-document: False

We can do this at the Report Definition Level. Then we have to select the definitions one by one. This global property change will be common for all the report definitions and is set once.

PS Utilities Chrome Plugin

Not sure whether you are using this plugin already. If not, I would recommend this to make your life easier.

For me, this is one highly helpful plugin while using PeopleSoft. Love this due to the below main reasons

- I don’t have to check in the app designer on the record field names on the page. I can get that information from a single click on the browser

- It saves the login information and no need to type the credentials every time.

Other features:

Global Favorites

• Create favorites for the pages you use most often.

• These favorites can be accessed from all environments, unlike the delivered favorites.

• You can choose to open in same window or a new tab.

• Favorites can be grouped together in categories and sub-categories.

PS Utilities Toolbar

• This is a floating toolbar which is visible when in PeopleSoft.

• It contains a number of features which can be turned on/off as you wish.

• You can position the bar where you would like as well as resize.

CTRL + J Information

• Get the most important CTRL + J information by clicking an icon in the toolbar.

Field Inspector

• Use the field inspector to find the name of records and fields behind the pages.

Search Page Features

• Auto Correct History – the Correct History option will be selected on search pages by default.

• Auto Advanced Search – some search pages have Basic Search by default, which means you have to click the Advanced Search button to be able to search by more parameters, this option will always bring up the Advanced Search options.

Page Tabsa

• Some components have so many tabs that you can’t see them all without scrolling through by clicking the arrow icons.

• Page Tabs provides quick links to all the pages in a component from the toolbar.

Environment Indicator and User ID

• The name of the environment you are logged into as well as the User ID with which you are logged in will be displayed in the toolbar.

• Very useful for people who work in multiple environments or log in with multiple user accounts.

Really helpful one.

File Parser - Couple Of facts To Be Aware Of

I am a big fan of the File Parser Process. However, there are couple of gray areas where the File Parser can degrade the performance when combined with the Common Attribute Framework (CAF). 

If we make the right decision based on these two main facts, File Parser can expedite the entire data load process with greater efficiency.

Configurable User Profile Synchronization

Started off with the traditional USER_PROFILE sync and the user profiles on the target instance got corrupted. 

Because of two main reasons. Custom Symbolic ID and Primary Permission List on the target instance. It would have been a customization before 8.5X, to exclude the unwanted fields, but not anymore. 

The USER_PROFILE_XFR, an enhanced/configurable USER_PROFILE message, is a stand-alone message and can be used instead of USER_PROFILE message depending on the requirement of what needs to be synchronized between databases.

You can control the fields to send to the target database by checking/un-checking the fields in the message.

When you view the XFR message for the first time, you might notice that some of the fields are already unchecked. 

As per Peoplebooks, below are the ones which are excluded in the message by default. 

PSOPRDEFN.OPRCLASS

PSOPRDEFN.ROWSECCLASS

PSOPRDEFN.SYMBOLICID

PSOPRDEFN.PRCSPRFLCLS

PSOPRDEFN.DEFAULTNAVHP

Note from Oracle: The USER_PROFILE_XFR message should not be used for messaging between a PT 8.4x to PT 8.5x environment.  This is only when the publishing and subscribing database is on PT 8.5x.

Have a great day!

8.54 Fluid UI - Quick Reads & Thoughts

Enabling the Reset Password Feature in Oracle SQL Developer

It happens. We forget our password and it becomes a headache all of a sudden. Here is one way to reset the password from Oracle SQL Developer.

You might have noticed the 'Reset Password' option, when you right click on any connection. It might be grayed out if you do not have the Oracle Client installed. Here's how you can enable that option by installing the client.

Download the Oracle Client from http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/winsoft-085727.html

UnZip the same and place it at your convenient location. You need the location to map the client later in the setup.

Add the above path to the Environment Variable

Go to Tools > Preferences > Database > Advanced and check 'Use Oracle Client' & 'Use OCE/Thick Driver'

Click on 'Configure' and locate the Oracle Client. Select Client Type as 'Instant Client'.

Then click on 'Test' button and make sure you get the success message as given below.

Re-start the SQL Developer, then on the corresponding Connections, right click and make sure that the 'Reset Password' option is enabled.

And you have it!

This is really really handy. Wooh!

General Availability Of PeopleTools 8.54

PeopleTools is proud to announce the release of PeopleTools 8.54.  This is a landmark release for PeopleSoft, one that offers remarkable advances to our applications and our customers.  We are particularly excited about the new PeopleSoft Fluid User Experience.  With this, our applications will offer a UI that is simple and intuitive, yet highly productive and that can be used on different devices from laptops to tablets and smart phones...

Read more from: https://blogs.oracle.com/peopletools/entry/oracle_peoplesoft_is_pleased_to

PT 8.54 Fluid Interface - The Most Awaiting Feature

As far as I am concerned, the top feature I expect in 8.54 is the ability to create Fluid pages all through the system. I love it for the reason being, I am a big fan of responsive design, since a year and a half now.

Have created and deployed several web based responsive applications and mobile sites using jQuery tools and boiler plate frameworks, but PeopleSoft always restricted me from trying out the same on its pages. Still with my colleague we created the Responsive PeopleSoft Mobile Self Service system outside the PeopleSoft architecture, which is robust enough to support the PeopleSoft customers.

And now with Fluid Interface, Oracle is going to take the customers by storm.

This is what Oracle says about the new PeopleSoft Fluid User Interface:

This release represents a landmark for PeopleTools and the PeopleSoft user experience. 

PeopleSoft application fluid pages scale gracefully from large screen devices, such as laptops and desktops, to the reduced viewing space of tablets and smartphones. Many commercial websites use a similar design model whereby the presentation and layout of information is adjusted dynamically to conform to the dimensions of the user’s device. The Fluid User Interface design approach gives developers just this type of control over the user experience. When a larger screen size (a screen with more “real estate”) is detected, the application content will adjust and conform accordingly to fill the space effectively. Similarly, if a smaller screen size is detected, non-essential information can be removed and the presentation of content will adjust to flow in a usable way. 

(Source: PeopleTools 854 RVP)

For those who are new to the Fluid/Responsive concept, check out my website (http://anoopsavio.com/) on Web, Smartphone or iPad.

Normal Web View

Responsive Mobile View

on iPad

Excited to develop a couple of pages with Fluidic feature in PeopleSoft!

How to know the Record/Field names without opening the Application Desginer

I've been using PS Utilities for a while and it is a great tool. But it doesn't support IE and Firefox. 

So how can we quickly get the Record and Field information on a page, without opening the Application Designer. I gave this info to a couple of functional people and they were all high about this simple technique. It helps the tech guys too at times, if someone ask about the similar information in between a meeting.

In Chrome/Firefox/IE 11, this can be achieved by placing the mouse pointed on the field and right clicking to select the Inspect Element option. This will open the developer window which shows you the HTML information of the page and highlights the field element.

The information about the Record and the Field is right there.

Trace the input element and see the name attribute to get the information in RECORD_FIELDNAME pattern.

A handy tip. 

How To Diagnose IE Browser Compatibility Issues

There will arise situations where you will face issues with custom PeopleSoft pages showing up some weird faces in the lower versions of IE. And being on the higher versions of IE, you might reply like, "Nope, not able to replicate the issue. Closing the ticket". 

However, as client can use the lower versions of IE browsers, still certified by PeopleSoft, you cannot just close the ticket with the above resolution.

I have seen couple of people, downgraded their IE versions just to fix the issue, which we don't have to do, with IE 11 Compatibility view feature.

With this, you can replicate the lower versions rendering on IE 11. And it is quite handy. 

Below is how to do it.

You can launch it from the menu > F12 Developer Tools or simple press F12. It opens a lower content area in IE 11

Document mode has the options for accessing lower versions of IE

Select the IE Version to replicate the issue and render to diagnose.

And there are features which will help those who handle the UI part of PeopleSoft. Orientation, User Agent String and Mobile UI views.

A great tool for developers.

Oracle Student Cloud

And the CS goes cloud. Customers can either opt for 9.2 or migrate to cloud. Isn't the CS getting fusion-ed. Ah, yes!

Here is the press release from Oracle 

Supporting Quote:

“Today’s higher education institutions – from traditional research institutions to non-traditional continuing education programs – have unique challenges but a shared focus on operational excellence and student success. Oracle is dedicated to providing our customers in this exciting industry with flexible technology options – through significant investments in the creation of a Higher Education Cloud, complete with Oracle Student Cloud and higher education functionality in our cloud-based HR and ERP applications, as well as a new release of our flagship PeopleSoft Campus Solutions suite. Oracle is an industry leader in offering this level of long-term commitment to choice and stability for higher education customers’ core administrative systems,” said Mark Armstrong, vice president, higher education product development, Oracle.

Campus Solutions 9.2 - Waiting for you!

Excerpt from Oracle Investment in Higher Education FAQ Document March 2014

You might face this question at some point of time. 

“Tell be about Campus Solutions 9.1 and it’s features, and what’s new in 9.2?”. And the most appropriate answer would be, “There wasn’t a 9.1 version for CS”. 

It is a bit of excitement about CS 9.2 getting garbed up behind the scenes. Waiting for it!

Transform the PSQuery

You might have already noticed a new tab on the PSQuery Manager - Transformations.

This is the place where you can place your custom XSL code and render the query in a much better way, than displaying it in a traditional way.

The best part I loved about this is that, you can create excellent report from the query, without using any existing reporting tools, but with just few lines of XSL + HML fused together. That's awesome!

To add a new XSL, click on the Add XSLT button.

It opens the data entry window for you to place the XSL.

To view the XSL effect on the query, click on the Preview button.

The XSL which I placed, transforms the query into a  tabular structure and easy to go through.

If you want to generate the transformed report, then schedule the query and you have it!

Power of PeopleTools

Thought of sharing this video

 

PeopleSoft 9 2 HTML Email Approvals

PeopleSoft In-Memory Project Discovery

The data isn't big for PeopleSoft :)

Oracle PeopleSoft Publishes User Experience Guidelines

Those who are highly interested in UX principles of PeopleSoft, refer the below link. Very interesting...

https://blogs.oracle.com/peopletools/entry/oracle_peoplesoft_published_user_experience